title: Induction and maintenance alpha-interferon therapy in myelofibrosis with myeloid metaplasia.
abstract: In 12 patients having myelofibrosis with myeloid metaplasia (MMM), recombinant- alpha interferon (r-alpha INF) was given for 16 weeks at an initial dose of 3 x 10(6) U/day as a cytoreductive agent. At the end of the 16th wk, Hb showed minor changes; WBC were reduced from 43 x 10(9)/l, range 6.4-69.4, to 16 x 10(9)/l, range 5-39 (p = 0.05); platelets decreased from 845 x 10(9)/l, range 215-1748, to 370 x 10(9)/l, range 96-730 (p = 0.005). 2 cases responded at the starting dose, while the effective dose was 5 x 10(6) U/d in the others. Minor changes in spleen size were noted, while no significant changes in bone marrow fibrosis occurred. After induction therapy, 3 patients were allocated to maintenance therapy (from 10 up to 34 months). To maintain platelet count lower than 500 x 10(9)/l, the required r-alpha-INF dose was constantly 10 MU/wk, while the same result was not achieved in 1 case with hydroxyurea, 1 g/die. The association with hydroxyurea, 500 mg/die, allowed reduction of the r-alpha INF dose to 6 MU/die in 1 other case.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Terapia Medica (Sez. Clinica Medica 2), IRCCS Policlinico S. Matteo, Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Barosi
authors.forename: L N
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Liberato
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Buratti
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Di Dio
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Salvatore
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ascari
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055728:Primary Myelofibrosis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
chemical_list: D007370:Interferon Type I; D011994:Recombinant Proteins